Lamar Blanks Ragin' Cajuns, 3-0
BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar scored three runs in the fourth inning while its pitching staff held Louisiana to a season-low one hit as the Cardinals edged past the Ragin’ Cajuns 3-0 Tuesday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
Louisiana (20-20) was one-hit for the first time since May 12, 2000, when the Cajuns suffered an 8-1 loss to New Orleans at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field – a streak of 480 games. The Cajuns’ one hit Tuesday eclipsed their previous season-low of two set against Southern Miss on Feb. 29. With the win, Lamar (24-16) avenged the 3-2 loss it suffered on April Fool’s Day in Lafayette.
Gregory Harmon (Crowley, La.) was credited for his first loss of the season. Lamar touched Harmon (1-1) for three fourth-inning runs on three hits and two walks in two innings of middle relief. Starter Matt Broussard (Breaux Bridge, La.) allowed one run in two innings of work.
Junior college transfer Blake Haagen (Athens, Ga.) went the furthest of the x Cajuns pitchers Tuesday night. Haagen scattered two hits in three scoreless innings of relief.
Lamar’s Brian Needham earned his second victory of the season as the right-hander tossed two no-hit innings. Needham (2-2) struck out one batter, while walking two. Tim Erickson sealed his eighth save of the season, while setting the career saves record (16).
Chris Dunkin led all hitters with three hits, finishing 3-for-4. Steve Tucker went 2-for-4. Josh Logan (Magee, Miss.) was the only Cajun to register hit, going 1-for-3.
Logan led off the game with a single up the middle in the top of the first. From there, Lamar pitching did not allow a hit to the final 30 Cajuns batters.
After three-plus scoreless innings, Lamar scratched the scoreboard first with a three-spot in the fourth inning. Tucker singled to right field and later advanced to second on a stolen base. Dunkin followed with an infield single deep into the hole at short, putting runners on the corners with nobody out.
Travis Dunson then scored the game’s first run with a RBI double down the left field line to plate Tucker for a 1-0 Lamar lead. Two batters later, Jeff Vickers drew a one-out walk from Harmon to load the bases for David Moore who promptly walked in the Cardinals’ second run.
Logan Pace plated Lamar’s final run of the inning with a RBI sacrifice fly to center to score Dunson for a 3-0 lead.
Louisiana concludes its five-game road swing Wednesday when the Ragin’ Cajuns visit the Southeastern Louisiana Lions Wednesday in a make-up of the April 2 meeting that was cancelled. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Alumni Field.
RaginCajuns.com
Chris Yandle
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